Building-unit machine



F. E. GALLAGHER" BUILDING UNIT MACHINE June 15 1926.

Filed Jan. 18,- 1924 6 sheets sheei l A TTORNE Y June 15 1926.

F. E. GALLAGHER BUILDING UNIT MACHINE F le Jan. 1924 6 sheets sheet' 2 2% 0 Q TE H N1 0 1 Ag N? H Q1 I t! N w w W I l wig, j. II

-fied izifa fi INVENTO BY 5W A TTORNE Y.

June 15 1926. v 1,589,141

F. E. GALLAGHER BUILDING UNIT MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 JNVE 01? v ATTORNEY F. E. GALLAGHER BUILDING UNIT MACHINE File Jan l 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 4' /f TTO/HVE Y June 15 1926. 1,585?

F. E. GALLAGHER BUILDING UNIT MACHINE Filed 1924 6 SheecwShsei;

HVVENTC'R.

BY \p June 15 1926. 1,589,141

, F. E. GALLAGHER BUILDING UNIT MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 BY 6 W 1 TTORNE Y.

Patented June 15, i926 omrsn s'rsrss FATENT FRED ELMER GALLAGHER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

BUILDING-UNIT MACHINE.

Application filed January 18, 192 1.

An object of this invention is the production of a machine of such construction that the parts consti uting the same will in a continuous cycle of operative movements, 31'0- d ce concrete building units, such as blocks bricks, building tile, chimney blocks, pier blocks, floor tile, either ornamental or plain.

With the above broadly stated object in View, and many others which will present themselves in the following disclosure rcference is to be had to the drawings which accompany and which form part of this application.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a building unit machine in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation looking to wards the opposite side of the machine.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure l is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view therethrough.

Figure 5 is a sectional View approximate ly on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, but showing the feed hopper moved over the mold box.

Figure 6 is a sectional view approximately similar to Figure 5 showing the mold box projecting outwardly as when a block has been formed therein and is to be removed therefrom.

Figure 7 i" a detail sectional view approximately on the line 77 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the substantially Ushaped roller carrying member, the rails engaged between the rollers and blocks of the said members being in s ction as is also a portion of the frame.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view approximately on the line 99 of Figure 6. The Improvement includes a suitable frame constituting a base that includes parallel sides and a rear connected end and uprights and both horizontal and transverse elements secured thereon, as well as brace means for the latter.

On one side of the frame there a wheel 1 which may be started or stopped at any point in the operation of the machine, and is placed in such position to bring the control lever therefor within easy reach of the operator. The control lever is indicated by the numeral 1. The wheel 1 is mounted on a. suitable shaft 2 that is journaled in suitable hearings on the frame, adjacent to the rear thereof. On the end of the shaft, opposite that on which the wheel 1 is arranged,

Serial No. 687,095.

there is keyed a pinion 3, and this pinion is in mesh with a gear l keyed on a shaft 5 that is journaled in bearings on two of the loa "'tudinal members of the frame, the Erie. shaft es'tending beyond its bearings. Keyed on the inner eno of tie shaft o there is a pinion 6 which is in mesh with a gear 7. This train of gears supplies the power to pack the block and is so arranged that a mold of blocks, tile or bricl: are made in one cycle of the shaft 8 on which the gear 7 is keyed. The shaft 8 is journaled in suitable bearings on the frame and extends beyond the sides of the said frame. The gears and pinions are so proportioned that the nion 2-3 turns four t'ines while the gear turns once and the pinion 6 turns four times while the gear 7 completes a revolution, so that the pinion 3 completes sixteen revolutions to one of the gear 7. This 1 tie nay, of course, be increased any number of times to give greater power, if needed, by arranging on the various shafts different sized gears and pinions.

On one end of the shaft 8 there a quick action cam 9 which turns in a forward direction on the frame and which is designed to contact *ith a roller 10 on an arm 11 to push the feed hopper 12 over the mold box 13 to lill the latter with the proper amount of material to make a mold of blocks, tile or bricks. These parts are so constructed that a quarter turn of the shat places the material in the mold box, wni e in other molding machines with which I a n acquainted several movements required to acco )llEll this purpose. he re ler carrying arm 11 is secured on a sh rt that is journaled in suitable hearings on the frame, the said shaft carrying a rocker arm 15 to whose sides are pivoted links that are in turn pivoted to a rod 1" secured between angle rails 18. These rails have their outer ends fixedly secured to the sides of the feed hopper 12.

Secured on the frame there is a subst ntially U-shaped mom ,cr 1&1 which has pivotally connected to i ri ts up ght arms. on the inner faces thereof, rollers and blocks or enlargements 21 above the rollers. Other and outer rollers 21 also suppo t the rails. The rails 18 travel over the rollers and are prevented from upnvard movement by the blocks or enlargements 21. The U-shaped member or bracket 19 has its upper element disposed above the links 5. and it will be apparent that when the cam 9 is moved to swing the roller carrying arm 11 in one direction, the shaft 14 will be rocked, causing its arm 15 to impart movement to the links 16 and thus move the feed hopper over the mold box 13 or away therefrom. The cam 9 is so constructed that the feed hopper 12 is halted for a considerable desired period in either of its positions.

The feed hopper 12 is in the nature of a rectangular member, and normally rests on a plate 22 secured between the inner longitudinal members of the frame, and the said plate provides a closure for the open bottom of the slidable hopper 12. From its upper rear corner there is extended from the feed hopper 12 a plate, in the nature of an apron 23. The apron is stepped, and the upper elevate-d rear portion thereof is, for distinction, indicated by the numeral 24.

Secured by means 25 to the uprights adjacent the forward end of the frame, and disposed directly over the feed hopper and its apron, when the latter is in normal retracted position, there is a material or d1- recting hopper 26. The apron 23 and its extension is of a size to cover the bottom of the material directing hopper 26 when the feed hopper is moved outwardly therebelow, and the shoulder provided by the stepped portion of'tlie apron affords ameans for wiping the material from the bottom of the directing hopper to deliver the same into the feed hopper.

Jo-urnaled in bearings 27 in longitudinal plates 28 secured to the frame uprights 29, there is a shaft 30. Gn the shaft 30 there is freely mounted a mixing bin 31. The portion' of the shaft received in the bin is provided with a spirally arranged series of material mixing fingers or arms 32 and secured on the plates 28 to therear of the bin there is a platform 33 on which the operator stands for directing the material into the bin. Of course, this may be automatically accomplished. I secure to one side of the bin 31 an angularly disposed lever 34 whichis in contact with the platform 33 for holding the bin from accidental turning in forward dumping direction.

Keyed on one end of the shaft 30 there is a pulley wheel 35, around which is trained a belt 36 that is likewise trained around a pulley wheel 37 on the shaft Thus the turning of the drive shaft 2 will impart motion to the finger carrying shaft 30 in the mixing bin 31 so that material therein will be effectively mixed. here is arranged between the bin and the shaft 30 lever operated clutch means 33 whereby the mixing device may be stopped or started. The lever 34 is employed for dumping the mixing bin to deliver the contents therefrom into the material directing hopper 26 and from thence into the feed hopper 12.

Below the outer edge of the plate on which the movable feed hopper rests, there is secured to the referred to uprights on the frame a plate 39. This plate 39 has vertically disposed elongated slots or openings 40 adjacent to its ends, and an inner series of substantially rectangular openings 41, the purpose of which will presently be apparent.

The mold box 13 includes a frame which comprises side members 42 connected together by an approximately central transverse partition 43 and having their lower corners provided with inwardly extending cleats forming rails 44. The partition is notched in a line with the said rails. The mold box, outward of its partition has fixed in bearings upon the lower sides thereof a shaft 45 that is journaled in suitable bearing openings in the sides of the frame, and the turning of this shaft will swing the mold box to either horizontal or substantially vertical positions, in a manner which will presently be described.

The slidable bottom of the mold box includes a pair of spaced bars 46 that ride on the rails 44 and that pass through the referred to openings in the partition These bars are connected together at their ends adjacent to the plate 39 by a plate 47, and this plate, in reality, provides the bottom of the mold box. At the rear of the plate and secured to the bars 46 there are uprights 48 which are arranged in slight contacting engagement with the side members 42 of the mold box. These uprights provide rests for a pallet 49, and suitable latching means 50 may be and preferably are employed for locking the pallet on the rests or uprights 49. The pallet 49 is provided with openings corresponding in number and size with the openings 41 in the plate 39, and aligning therewith when the mold box is in normal horizontal position. .Vhen in such position the plate 39 provides one of the end walls for the said mold box.

The side members 42 of the mold box are approximately centrally grooved longitudinally on their outer faces, as indicated by the numeral 51, the said grooves terminating in notches 52 at the outer ends of the sides 42. Disposed for slidable movement in the grooves 51 there are plates or bars 53, the said bars having their outer ends connected by a bar 54 of a size to be received in the notches 52. The bars 53 in reality,] 3rovide rails and are of a length approximately equalling onehalf or less than one-half of that of the mold box. The rails 53 have secured on their outer faces upstanding plates 55, and either formed with or secured to these plates there is what I will refer to as the finishing plate 56 for the material in the mold box. The outer connecting element of the rails 53, referred to as the bar 54, has

secured thereon equi-distantly spaced packing lingers 57. These fingers are received throu h the openings in the partition plate of the mold box and are movable into the openings 11 in the plate 39.

The side members of the mold box, from the outer end thereof, and below the grooves 51 are notched longitudinally, as at 58, the said notches receiving therein a connecting plate or bar 59 for the bars lb of the movable bottom plate l? of the mold box. Either the bar 59 or the bars l6 have outstanding headed studs 60 which pass through the notches 58 and which also pass through elongated slots 61 in the outer ends of links The inner ends of these links are fixed to a shaft 63 that is journaled in the sides of the main frame. The links are arranged at a downward angle with respect to the mold box.

The connecting bar 54 for the rails 53 has projecting ends which re reduced and rounded and which receive thereon links 6%. Suitable means is provided for retaining the linlrs on the trunnions provided on the ends of the said bar 54-. These links pass throu h the slot 4-0 in the plate 89, and are pivot-ally connected to normally angular-1y disposed links 66 secured on a shaft 6'? that has its ends journaled in suitable bearings on the side members of the main frame. The sh .ft 64' has thereon an angle arm 68 on whose outer end there. is journaled a roller On the inner face of the gear wheel 7, which is mounted on the shaft 8, there is fixed a cam 70 designed to ride over the roller (39 to swing the arm 68 to turn the shaft 67 and through the medium of the links 66 secured thereon, to influence the links 6 to more the rails 53 and the finishing plate carried thereby over the top of the mold box, and to likewise swing the mold box to either its horizontal or upwarc angular position. When moved to its latt position the fixed slotted links 62, eng 1 31 a; ng the studs 60 on the movable bottom df the mold box will influence the same outwardly therefrom so that the pallet and the block formed thereon may be readily removed therefrom for drying or stacking, and a similar pallet may be arranged upon the rest provided by the uprights on the said movable bottom of the mold board. The turning of the shaft 8 will further influence the cam to swing the roller carrying arm and the shaft 67 in an opposite direction which will cause the parts to move reversely to that just described, so that the top of the mold box will be open. As previously intimated, the operation is so timed that after the dumping of the material from the bin into the directing hopper 26 and from thence into the feed hopper 12 the latter will be moved outwardly so that the material therefrom will be deposited into the mold box. As the feed hopper is returned to initial position the finishing plate will be moved over the material in the mold box and with the movement of the said plate the packing fingers will be forced through the said material. This has both a wiping and a squeezing effect upon the block in th mold box so that water will be removed from the material, ant the building unit will be in a practically dry state when removed with the pallet from the mold box.

'lo accomplish the movement of he mold box and the parts associated therewith there is iixed on one end of the shaft 4-5 to which the mold box is connected a drum wheel 71 around which there is trained a flexible element in the nature of a cable or chain 72. The cable has its ends connected respectively to the ends of lever arms 73 and 74. Both of these arms are journaled on a stub shaft 75 that extends from the frame, and the outer and shorter lever arm 73 has on its free end a roller 76 that is in contacting engagement with a can'i 7?" fixed on the outer end of the shaft 8. The free end of the inner lever arm l is weighted, or may have adjustably secured thereon a weighted element whereby the said end of the lever is always moved in a downward direction, and this weighted end of the lever will return the mold box to horizontal and open position when the cam '4"? has traveled off of the roller 76 on the arm T3. This is, of course, incident to the weighted end of the arm influencing the same downwardly and exerting a pull on the flexible element or cable 72 to wind the same around the drum '4 1 and to cause the lead of the said cable to exert a pull against the roller carrying lever 73.

It is thought that the foregoing descrip tion, when taken in connection with the drawings will fully set forth the construction and operation of my improvement to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and that further detailed description will not be required. It will, of course, be apparent that fancy facings, such as marble dust, granite, quartz, etc, may be employed to face the unit without the use of glue and further that my apparatus is automatic in action, quick in operation and thoroughly eiiicient for its purposes. I wish it further understood that the nature of my "uprorement such as to necessarily render .-ie same susceptible to changes and modificati' and therefore the invention is limthe scope of the appended Having described the invention, I claim 1. In a concrete building molding machine, a bin, means for mixing concrete therein, a slidable hopper below the bin, means delivering mixed concrete thereinto when the bin is turned, means for turning ill!) the bin when the hopper is in concrete receding position, a mold box outward of the bin, means moving the hopper over the mold box to deposit the concrete therein, means compressing the concrete in the mold box after the hopper has been returned to imtial position, means wiping the surplus concrete from the mold box, means for tilting the mold box to permit of the removal of the molded article therefronn'and means returning the mold box and the elements associated therewith to initial position.

2. In a concrete molding machine, a frame, a bin thereon, a shaft on which the bin is supported, beater arms on the shaft, means for revolving the shaft, means for tilting the bin to deposit the concrete therefrom, a receiving hopper in which the concrete is received, a slidable hopper therebelow receiving the concrete therefrom, means comprising a stepped apron on the inner corner of the slidable hopper for closing the bottom of the receiving hopper, a mold box outward of the slidable hopper over which the latter is movable to deposit concrete thereover, means compressing the concrete in the mold box to remove moisture therefrom, means for wiping superfluous concrete from the mold box and for facing the molded article therein, means for tilting the mold box to permit of the removal of the molded article therefrom when the slidable hopper is returned to initial position, and means for returning the mold box and elements associated therewith to initial position prior to a second outward movement of the slidable hopper.

3. In a concrete molding machine, a frame, a shaft journaled on the top thereof, a concrete receiving bin journaled on the shaft, beater arms on the shaft for mixing concrete in the bins, means for revolving the shaft, means for tilting the bin, a hopper in which the mixed concrete is received, a slidable hopper therebelow receiving the mixed concrete therefrom, a rearwardly projecting stepped apron on the slidable hopper for closing the bottom of the receiving hopper, a pivotally supported mold box disposed outward of the slidable hopper, means for rcciprocz ting the slidable hopper to deliver the. contents therefrom into the mold box and to arrange the same in concrete receiving position, a pallet removably secured in the mold box, means associated with the mold box for compressing the concrete therein, means for imparting motion to said compressing means, means movable over the mold box for wiping and facing the molded article therein, means for operating said last mentioned means, means for tilting the mold box to permit of the removal of the pallet and molded article therefrom when the slidable hopper is in receiving position, and means for returning the hopper and the parts associated therewith to initial position immediately prior to the movement of the slidable mold box over said hopper.

a. In a concrete molding machine, a frame including an apertured face plate, a mold box pivot-ally supported on the frame and normally in contact with the plate, an apertured pallet removably received in the mold box, means for delivering mixed concrete into the mold box, slida-ble fingers movable through the openings in the pallet and plate for compressing the concrete in the mold 90x, means for operating said compressing means, means slidable over the mold box for wiaing and facing the molded article therein movable in timed relation with the fingers, means for tilting the mold box to permit of the removal of the pallet and molded article therefrom, means for retracting the fingers and the wiping means when the mold box is tilted, and means for returning the mold box and the elements associated therewith to initial position to permit of the reception of additional concrete in the mold box.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FRED ELMER GALLAGHER. 

